Nationalism and Islam

[showkot]

Nationalism and Islam Breaking up the Muslim Ummah and weakening it has been the goal of Kuffar since the Ummah of Islam has existed. Nationalism has been the most effective way to accomplish such a goal. Thus, the seed of nationalism was planted among Muslims by Kuffar states. From the British, French and Italian colonists, this foreign idea found its place in the hearts and minds of Muslims. The disunity resulting from the physical borders among countries was allowed because of the existing feeling of nationalism among the Ummah due to the intellectual decline in it. When nationalism is completely understood, a true Muslim, or any human being for that matter, would withdraw from it. For nationalism is merely an emotional bond among people. this emotional bond, is motivated by the instinct of survival present in animals as well as in man. It is a bond that separates more than it gathers. A quick look at some countries like Iraq, Syria, Morocco, and Algeria, which have different ethnic groups like Arabs, Kurds, Persians, Berbers shows the severity of disputes among the people of these groups when nationalism is stirred among them. Extreme examples of nationalism are also seen in other Muslim countries such as Pakistan; conflicts between Sindhis, Punjabis, Pathans, and Muhajirs are a permanent feature of Pakistani politics. This conflict which results in bloodshed daily is because wants to dominate and force itself on other groups.

Islam has forbidden the call to nationalism. It considers anyone who calls for it, believing that it is a valid bond other than Islam are non-Muslim. Mohammed (saaws) said, "Whoever calls to tribalism is not from us." And considered the death of anyone fighting for it as the death of jahilliya. Abu Huraira narrated that the messenger (saaws) said, "Whoever fights under a flag of 'blindness' getting angry for a tribe or calling to a tribe or supporting tribe and gets killed fighting dies the death of a Jahilliya." And said, "People who take pride in their ancestors must stop, or they will be considered by Allah as less dignified than a filthy beetle rolling filth with its nose." The unity that Islam calls for is not based on tribal considerations, common language, similar backgrounds, color or race. the unity that Islam invites for is based only on the belief of one creed (aqueedah). Islam states that whoever adheres to this belief are brothers. "Verily only the Muslims are brothers." (Al-Hujrat:10).

And reminds Muslims that they were enemies killing each other until Islam saved them. "You became, by His grace, brothers." (Al-Imran:103).

The manifestation of nationalism in the division of the Muslim Ummah into various countries with artificial borders facilitated the Kuffar to exploit and dominate us. They, the Kuffar, were the ones to divide the Muslim Ummah politically, in order to dominate it. Muslims accept to such divisions and physical borders and nationalistic feeling makes us even weaker than we already are and prone to the plots of our enemies- the Kuffar.

We Muslims should reject any separation among us, be it emotional or physical. We Muslims must stop reacting in the way the Kuffar want us to react. We Muslims should take the Islamic bond as the only bond to relate with each other. "O Mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into peoples and tribes so you may recognize each other. The best of you in the sight of Allah is the one with the most Taqwa (most righteous). Surely, Allah is all-knowledgeable and is well acquainted." (Al-Hujrat:10)